CHAPTER XV. — AN ELOPEMENT

The Hon. Nathaniel Adams Sawyer sat in his library reading a ponderous legal document. It was full of knotty points requiring deep thinking, and the Hon. Nathaniel was breathing deeply and thinking deeply when the door was opened quietly and a young girl looked in. She stood for a moment regarding the reader.

“Father, are you very busy?”

The man finished reading the page before noticing the speaker.

“I am always busy, Maude, except when asleep, and I sometimes think my subliminal consciousness is active then.”

Maude's inclination was to say “Oh, my!” but she repressed the ejaculation.

“I can give you a few minutes, Maude, if the subject is an important one. Come in.”

Maude entered, seated herself, folded her hands in her lap and regarded her father as a disobedient pupil would a teacher.

“Father—”

The Hon. Nathaniel was listening attentively.